HOUSTON – Jeff Van Gundy stuck up for former Knicks GM Scott Layden yesterday. At least there’s one out there.

The ex-Knick coach would not be specific but he believes some of Layden’s moves were forced upon him by upper management. It’s been widely reported owner James Dolan wanted Latrell Sprewell dealt because he thought it would improve the character of the team.

“Everyone has their own evaluation of Scott, but there’s no doubt in my mind he worked extremely hard,” said Van Gundy, who had a great relationship with Layden. “He followed orders from above him and ended up taking a lot of grief.”

Van Gundy and Layden have exchanged several phone messages and the former Knicks coach wishes Layden stuck up for himself more with the media.

Meanwhile, Rockets assistant Patrick Ewing was upset at the Chaney firing episode in which he was axed at the Garden two hours before tip-off.

“I was very sorry to see Don go,” Ewing said. “Don’s a great guy. It’s disappointing the way the whole situation happened. The funny thing is everyone keeps saying Lenny [Wilkens] was a guard and Isiah was a guard and they forget Chaney was a very good guard also. It could have been handled better.”